Cover Image: The Cutting Place

The Cutting Place

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Member Reviews

Wow I loved this book from stsrt to finish . This is the end Jane Casey book I have read and it was as good ss the first one I read . I love the characters and the partnership between Kerrigan and Derwent . This story had everything tin it from murder, friendship, deception, domestic violence and recovery . Can't wait for the next book

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Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Casey has long been one of my top auto-buy authors, so I simply couldn't wait to get stuck into 'The Cutting Place'. Well, Casey has excelled herself, once again, with this crisp, tautly-plotted thriller. This is one of those books that you just have to keep reading and reading... you get the picture. It is addictive, enthralling and will either keep you up late into the night reading, or, willing the white noise of everyday life would simply go away, just to complete this tour de force of crime fiction from the maestro that is Jane Casey. It is not an understatement to say that Casey is an undisputed master of her craft and just keeps getting better and better. So, we begin this latest instalment of the Maeve Kerrigan series with a dismembered body found on the shores of the River Thames. It belongs to a freelance journalist hot on the tail of a story about the mysterious Chiron Club, a members only, exclusive men's club. Just what this story entails is at the heart of the plot, and more specifically, why the secrets of the club and its members necessitates the recourse to the murder of anyone threatening to penetrate the enigmatic insularity of this elitist, shadowy organisation of powerful men. But the rules these men play by are not the same rules that govern us mere mortals, so it is up to the intrepid Maeve Kerrigan and her fiend and colleague, Josh Derwent, to solve the enigma-wrapped-in-a-riddle that is the Chiron Club. In typically Casey fashion, however, nothing is as it seems. There are twists and turns galore in this pitch-perfect crime thriller, but like the maestro she is, Casey guides us expertly through the opaque early stages of the book to deliver a truly compelling and addictive reading experience. Quite simply a must-read for connoisseurs of crime fiction. Absolutely enthralling.

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The Cutting Place is the ninth book in the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. I haven’t read any of the books in the series so Maeve was new to me. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on any background as this read really well as a stand alone but I loved the character and her partner Josh so it has made me want to go back and read more. Its a really good thriller that also allows focus on the characters and their personal lives so there’s a few different stories going on which kept it really interesting.

The main story is about the death of a journalist who was investigating some dodgy goings on in a private men’s club made up of the very rich, the type of people who would pay a lot to keep their business private. But not all is what it seems and its up to Maeve, her partner and her team to delve in and discover whats really going on. As more bodies are discovered the secrets soon start to come to light. But will she ever find out what happened to the young reporter?

I really enjoyed reading this and at a time where I am struggling to concentrate on anything this really captured my attention and took me away from the world for a bit.

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I'm a convert to this writer .. not only refreshing relationship between detectives pursuing this gruesome case of corpses cut up, and disposed of, but also the race to find out who ...which delves into dark territory of why. Professional without being distanced, I felt in hands of confident, skillful writer .. I'm looking for more by her.

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The book had me gripped from the start and kept me engrossed throughout. With every book Jane Casey gets better and better. I didn't think that was possible because i loved her first Maeve Kerrigan book The Burning so much but The Cutting Place is just wow.I really enjoyed the tense relationship between the fabulous characters DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent. I was really drawn into the investigation of journalist Paige Hargreaves and her connections to the highly secretive and alarming Chiron Club. A very well written police procedural. I can highly recommend this excellent book to everyone.

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This book does not disappoint as we again solve a crime with Derwent and Kerrigan, two of the most likable cop characters around. Without giving too much away, the subplot that relates to being in an abusive relationship is woven into the story with subtlety and nuance. A good read and highly recommended.

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This addition to the Maeve Kerrigan series is an absolute triumph. Much to my delight, her relationship with Derwent is turned up a notch (or ten) and there are a few other surprises in store. As always aspects of the storylines of previous books in the series are included to give the whole series a robust feel to it.

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I love this series and this one is as good as any of them. Well written and plotted and the two main characters and their relationship continues to develop. More please !

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My first Jane Casey but won't be my last! Featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent whose chemistry and backstory are so intriguing! This story features the discovery of a dismembered arm in the Thames, finding the identity of the person and tracing her movements. The story she was working on as an investigative journalist leads the detectives to an exclusive and secretive men's club and as they dig further they uncover disturbing facts and happenings amongst the members .
The story is interspersed with information about the personal lives of the two detectives adding an extra dimension to the story touching on domestic abuse and cohersive relationships which can lead to violence within the home.
Well worth the read and i will be going back to earlier books to find put more about Maeves and Joshs history!

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Brilliant - loved this suspenseful police mystery. The story is realistic and current. The characters are amazing with great chemistry between Maece and Derwent.
Will definitely be look to read more books by Jase Casey..

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You've got to be in the club to know the truth.

Everyone's heard the rumours about elite gentlemen's clubs, where the champagne flows freely, the parties are the height of decadence . . . and the secrets are darker than you could possibly imagine.
DS Maeve Kerrigan finds herself in an unfamiliar world of wealth, luxury and ruthless behaviour when she investigates the murder of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves. Paige was working on a story about the Chiron Club, a private society for the richest and most privileged men in London. Then she disappeared. 
It's clear to Maeve that the members have many secrets. But Maeve is hiding secrets of her own – even from her partner DI Josh Derwent. Will she uncover the truth about Paige’s death? Or will time run out for Maeve first?

My thoughts about this brilliant suspense police thriller was outstanding loved each and every character a fast moving murder mystery to find the murder of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves was outstanding Loved DS Maeve Kerrigans character the suspense about the murder of Paige was shocking to find out what the owners of Chiron Club what they were hiding was also outstanding a race against time to find out the killer and what really happened in Chiron Club of the murder of Paige is nail biting Crime Author Jane Casey has written a powerful thriller that is a race against time to find out the real motivation for the murder of Paige
An outstanding story that will grip you from the start till the end all an all a blockbuster highly recommended I would like to say thank you to HQ stories and Jane Casey for a early review copy I will be reading the rest of the series soon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥

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I am reviewing Cruel Acts and The Cutting Place together; while these are two very different books in terms of plot, they still feature the same characters that I know and love! I am a huge fan of Jane Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series, following the sparky relationship between Maeve and Derwent, but hadn't managed to catch up on the latest books - until now.
Cruel Acts investigates the conviction of Leo Stone for the murder of two young women and whether he is now responsible for the murder of a third after his release. The Cutting Place covers important contemporary issues, such as white male privilege and domestic violence.
Jane Casey's books are brutal and witty (the dialogue drives the plot), honest and raw. She handles dark themes with sensitivity and care while leading her readers on a twisty path. The Cutting Place, in particular, focuses as much on the main characters' lives as the case they are trying to investigate, with a few shocking scenes and further revelations. Other characters, such as Maeve and Derwent's colleague Georgia Shaw, are also now being thrust more into the limelight.

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I love Maeve Kerrigan!
This series is one of my favourites, fantastic writing, interesting plots and realistic characters.
What more can you ask for? I’ll tell you...nothing. This is perfection, read it!

Engaging, dark and full of tensions!

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I have only recently discovered Jane Casey and the DS Maeve Kerrigan books but safe to say I am hooked! The chemistry between Maeve and her colleague Josh Derwent is pitched just right so as not to make it overshadow the storyline/investigation.

This book was action packed from the get go. A local woman finds dismembered body parts on the riverbank and the investigation leads DS Kerrigan to discover that the parts belong to Paige Hargreaves, an investigative journalist in her 20s. Can Maeve find out what ‘big scoop’ Paige was working on and whether it caused her to be murdered?

This was a great read and I kept changing my mind as to where I thought it was going. I strongly recommend it to all readers who love crime stories. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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The Cutting Place is a brooding, realistic and devastating thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Superior characterisation, a well developed and excitingly delivered plot and lashings of action and suspense make this an exhilarating read.

When a piece of a body washes up on the shore of the Thames, DI’s Maeve Kerrigan and Josh Derwent are on the case. Their enquiries lead them to the mysterious and secretive Chiron Club. Exclusive and elusive, this members only club is for the very wealthy and may just be at the heart of the crime. When the remains are identified as a young investigative reporter, who had more than a passing interest in the Chiron Club, Kerrigan and Derwent have their work cut out for them to get to the bottom of what really goes on behind their illustrious doors. Outside of the case, Kerrigan battles guilt over keeping a secret from Derwent and faces the collapse of her relationship. It’s far from smooth sailing for Kerrigan and the team, so settle in for a bumpy ride!

This was my first foray into the world of Maeve Kerrigan and I can honestly say that I will seek out Casey’s other thrillers, as this one blew me away. Whilst it comfortably fits into the police procedural genre of crime fiction, there’s so much more to this novel. There’s all the expected mystery, action and suspense, but what made this a stand out read for me was the development of Kerrigan as a character. The sub plot surrounding her relationship with her colleagues and her boyfriend - at times - more tense than the overarching crime that is being investigated. Kerrigan is an immediately likeable character and the complex relationship between her and her colleague Josh Derwent is full of tenderness, very funny banter and a true sense of friendship. It adds an element of lightheartedness to the narrative at points, whilst also being a key contributor to the drama and excitement. Whilst Kerrigan and Derwent’s relationship is special, the dynamic between the entire Met team is well developed and makes for very enjoyable reading. I found myself turning the final page and wishing that I worked with these guys!

Casey has a very accessible writing style and I found myself transported to each scene. The Chiron Club is vividly described and came to life in my mind (larger than life in all honesty!). The debauchery, dark deeds and general misogyny of the place was written very convincingly and the characters who are members of the club leap out from the pages. It’s a fantastic background for the plot, as you can genuinely believe that somewhere like this exits. There’s plenty of twists in the mystery and a number of angles that Kerrigan and team explore. These keep you guessing on what the final conclusion will be, but the ending will definitely take you by surprise! There’s multiple crimes here that are all very authentically wrapped up - you may see some things coming, but I was certainly surprised by the revelations around the journalist, Paige’s, murder. I implore anyone to claim they worked it out!

I highly recommend The Cutting Place for its taut atmosphere, it’s engaging and likeable lead characters and it’s authentically brutal plot. This is quality crime fiction at its best!

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I love the characters of DS Maeve Kerrigan and her colleague DI Josh Derwent. The Cutting Place was classic Kerrigan and Derwent. Body parts are found on the shore of the Thames, leading the police to believe they belong to an investigative journalist. It transpires that the journalist was working on a story about the Chiron Club, a gentleman's club with many secrets. How far would the club go to cover their shady dealings and would they commit murder to protect themselves? Maeve also has trouble in her personal life, her boyfriend Seth is being overly possessive but Maeve seems desperate not to rock the boat. I found myself wondering how badly this relationship was going to cost Maeve. To say anymore would involve spoilers so I'll say no more. I thoroughly enjoyed The Cutting Place, it may even be Jane Casey's best book yet. Highly recommend.

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When a body part is discovered by a mudlark on the banks of the Thames near Greenwich the subsequent investigation leads DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent into some very murky waters. Through DNA the victim is identified as journalist Paige Hargreaves who has been investigating the secretive men’s Chiron Club whose members are very powerful and wealthy. It takes tenacity, determination and risk to get to the truth in this gritty novel.

Your attention is literally grabbed from the start in this excellent crime fiction. This is a novel about power, how power corrupts and how evil begets evil. It is very dark at times, extremely tense, totally gripping, and occasionally very emotional. The storyline is really exciting, realistic, it’s believable and I like how irony is used to great effect and humour breaks tension. The standout element of the book is the amazing relationship between Maeve and Josh. Although they clash, they have more than a deep friendship, they understand each other and they have each other’s backs. When an author gets to number 9 in a series as is the case here, there is deep insight and understanding of the characters they have created which gives a feel of authenticity. Both of them have a lot of very personal things to handle in this novel which adds an extra dimension to the storytelling.

Overall, this is an extremely well written and perfectly paced story which is extremely powerful. Although I have a question mark against the motive for Paige’s death I still have no hesitation in awarding the book five stars. This is because of how well the rest of the book stacks up and how carefully Jane Casey handles some difficult themes such as violence towards women. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the copy.

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This is the ninth book in the series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent. It can easily be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend you read the full series, it is well worth it! Body parts belonging to a young woman are washed up on the Thames foreshore. Maeve and her team are investigating the case and discover that they belong to Paige Hargreaves. She is a young freelance investigative journalist and has, apparently, been investigating the Chivron Club. This is a private, elite club for privileged men and Maeve thinks that Paige must have uncovered something about it and so was murdered. A second story runs alongside this when two years earlier a young man wakes up in a country house after a drunken party and confronts a nightmare scene. This book gives us more personal insights into Maeve and Josh’s private lives and their own relationship. This is another gripping book from Jane Casey that will have you hooked with it’s content of domestic abuse, blackmail, intrigue, secrets and twists and turns. I am,already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

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The death of a young journalist is the starting point for The Cutting Place which is the latest book in the DS Maeve Kerrigan series from Jane Casey.

This crime fiction book covers off an elite gentlemen’s club and the finding of a chopped up body along with a twist about two thirds of the way in which impacts one of the main character.

The main characters are also allowed to develop and grow which enhanced the enjoyment for this reader although at least one of the minor characters must be due her comeuppance

The story flows well throughout and whether you are reading this as part of the series or as a stand-alone you won’t have any problems following the various storylines.

Overall highly recommended

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Boys will be boys...

When a mudlarker finds bits of a body washed up on the banks of the Thames, Detective Sergeant Maeve Kerrigan finds herself with a particularly tricky murder on her hands. The lack of a complete corpse makes identification difficult, and there’s no indication of where the crime may have been committed. However, with the help of her team and a couple of lucky breaks, Maeve is soon on the trail of a secretive all-male club, full of the rich and privileged who use their wealth and power to behave outrageously and get away with it.

This is the ninth in the Maeve Kerrigan series, one of the very few series I have followed all the way through and still look forward eagerly to each instalment. Partly this is because Maeve is such an attractive character – the books are written in the first person from her perspective (past tense) and, while she frequently gets herself entangled in dangerous situations, she is resilient and so remains refreshingly normal with her sense of sometimes wicked humour intact. Partly, too, it’s because of Casey’s skill in plotting. The books tend to concentrate on some aspect of contemporary life – in this one, the issue of male privilege and how it can lead to the sexual abuse of women – but Casey manages to avoid becoming overly polemical or to be too obviously making “points”. And partly, it’s because Maeve is one of the very few fictional female police officers who isn’t constantly having to battle sexual discrimination in the workplace. Maeve and her colleagues, male and female alike, work as a competent team, with the usual banter that takes place in any mixed gender setting but with mutual respect all round. Just like I imagine most real police teams in the 21st century probably behave, in fact. First and foremost, although the plots are by no means cosy, the interplay between the recurring characters keeps the books entertaining, a thing that much of contemporary crime seems to have forgotten how to be.

Maeve now has a new boyfriend, Seth, while Josh Derwent is still with his girlfriend, Melissa, and has settled into the role of father to her young son. But the ongoing will-they/won’t-they tension between Maeve and Josh continues, although Maeve would deny its existence. I have to admit that I am not Josh’s biggest fan – or rather, I love him as a character but don’t particularly admire him as a man. Having started out as a male chauvinist pig of the first order, he has gradually softened as the series has progressed and I know that the vast majority of long-term fans seem to hope that one day Maeve and he will ride off happily into the sunset together. I’m afraid I can’t help being concerned about his controlling and often physically domineering behaviour towards Maeve, which in this book is ironic since part of the plotline concerns a toxic controlling relationship. Despite my reservations, I do enjoy their banter and the good thing about fictional controlling men, as opposed to real ones, is that they can change over time.

I was delighted that Maeve’s mother puts in an appearance in this one, partly because their relationship is so well done and believable, and partly because it’s such a refreshing departure for a detective to actually have a normal, supportive family at her back.

I don’t want to say much about the plot for fear of spoilers, but it’s done with Casey’s usual skill, treading close to the credibility line at points but always managing to stay just on the right side of it. Mostly what I love about these books, though, is their sheer readability – the easy flow that looks effortless although I’m quite sure it isn’t, the banter between Maeve and Josh and the wider team, the pacing that relies on a sure and steady reveal of information as the book progresses rather than the ubiquitous and unlikely twists of so much crime fiction, and the excellent quality of the writing itself. As always, I found this one pure pleasure to read and now begins the long wait for the next one. Highly recommended, but if you’re a newcomer, do read the series in order – the character development is a major part of the enjoyment.

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins via NetGalley.

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